Frederick Molton Johnson
- Music Department
- Actor
Fred was born on March 11, 1942 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began his career singing on street corners in downtown Pittsburgh. His incredible voice caught the attention of everyone who heard him sing. In 1959 he founded the Marcels in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with Cornelius Harp, Gene Bricker, Ron Mundy, and Richard Knauss. The group was named by Fred's younger sister, Priscilla, after a popular hair style of the day, the Marcell wave.
On this day, sixty-one years ago, (April 3, 1961) the new version of the ballad, "Blue Moon "topped the Billboard charts at Number 1, replacing Elvis Presley's "Surrender". Johnson's vast talent was evidenced by the fact that this iconic song was finished in only two takes and his unique rendition of "bomp-baba-bomp-ba-bomp-ba-bomp-bomp...vendange-dang-dang-vadinga-dong-ding..." sold over a million copies. Blue Moon is featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. "Fred was greatly loved and will be missed by his many fans and friends. He changed Rock and Roll forever." , Lynda Schneider, Publicist.
On this day, sixty-one years ago, (April 3, 1961) the new version of the ballad, "Blue Moon "topped the Billboard charts at Number 1, replacing Elvis Presley's "Surrender". Johnson's vast talent was evidenced by the fact that this iconic song was finished in only two takes and his unique rendition of "bomp-baba-bomp-ba-bomp-ba-bomp-bomp...vendange-dang-dang-vadinga-dong-ding..." sold over a million copies. Blue Moon is featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll. "Fred was greatly loved and will be missed by his many fans and friends. He changed Rock and Roll forever." , Lynda Schneider, Publicist.
